Median house price
$940k
+6.8% change
NSW · Central Coast Council
Watanobbi, 2259
Est. population · Jun 2025
4,096
Growth (1 yr)
-0.2%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.8%
Median age
35
Median income
$1,315/wk
Employment rate
49.9%
Median house price · October to December 2025
$940,000
Languages at home
10.1%non-English
Most common: Spanish, Punjabi, Korean
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Watanobbi is a practical mid-sized suburb in Central Coast Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Well placed between the city and outer suburbs, it offers practical access in every direction. Working households and growing families are the backbone of local life, with a strong presence of young families throughout.
Fitness and outdoor sport options are a real part of local life, not just a distant club trip away. Green space punches above what many metro suburbs offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Buses make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.
Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Versus similar metro suburbs, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because safety, plus community and employment trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Watanobbi snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$680/wk
Houses $700 · Units $500
Population (ERP)
4,096
-0.2% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
3.2%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#270
among Metro Sydney · Established
Safety
71st
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
7th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
2/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
23rd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 43.1/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 46% of New South Wales' suburbs
- National rank
- 3230th in Australia
- State rank
- 986th in NSW
- Peer rank
- #270 among Metro Sydney · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #636 among Metro Sydney suburbs
- Data confidence
- 96%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $500
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $700
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $680
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 472
- Median house price (October to December 2025)
- $940,000
- Median price change
- +6.8%
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent and sales tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · January to March 2026; October to December 2025 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
4,096(June 2025)
-0.2% annual · +1.8% over 5 years · 7th percentile in NSW
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.2%
- 5-year growth
- +1.8%
- Change in 1 year
- -7
- Change in 5 years
- +72
- Growth rank in NSW
- 7th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~4,250), extrapolated at +0.8% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,980
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,315
- Dwelling vacancy
- 3.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 47 of 1,456
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,710
- Employment rate
- 49.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,218 / 140 / 46
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences increased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 403
- Against the person
- 101
- Against property
- 132
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 98.4
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 39 residents
- State safety percentile
- 71.4th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate)
- +6.1%
Most common offence types
- Breach Bail Conditions789
- Domestic Violence Related Assault437
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment636
- Malicious Damage To Property530
- Transport Regulatory Offences1055
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 3
- Median school ICSEA (3 schools)
- 946
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 23th
School list
- Wyong Public SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 931 · 18th percentile · LBOTE 21% · 433 students · Top SEA quarter 8% · 0.5 km awayView on My School →
- Wyong Christian Community SchoolCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1057 · 71th percentile · LBOTE 11% · 904 students · Top SEA quarter 25% · 1.5 km awayView on My School →
- Wyong High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 946 · 23th percentile · LBOTE 13% · 674 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- childcarechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
40 public transport stops in this suburb
- 156 Pacific Hwy
- Pacific Hwy At Cutler Dr
- Pacific Hwy Before Brittania Dr
- Pacific Hwy Opp 156
- Pacific Hwy Opp Brittania Dr
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
71 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 17 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Decent local green space — 5 parks in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Well connected by public transport — 40 public transport stops
- Strong local sport and recreation — 20 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 30/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 1.26
Shopping(1)
- 7-ElevenConvenience store
Community(4)
- Childcare
- De L'isle Drive Community CentreCommunity centre
- Watanobbi Community CentreCommunity centre
- Wyong Public SchoolSchool
Health & services(1)
- Central Coast Veterinary CentreVeterinary
166 Pacific Highway, Watanobbi
Sport & outdoors(25)
- Brent Close ReservePark
- Coronet ParkPark
- Park
- Spotted Gum ParkPark
- The GrovePark
- Playground (2)
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (17)
Entertainment(1)
- Viewpoint
Transport(17)
17 bus stops
Other(10)
- Bench (2)
- Brian Hilton ToyotaCar
154 Pacific Highway, Watanobbi
- Brian Hilton ToyotaCar
170 Pacific Highway, Watanobbi
- Garden (2)
- Parking (10)
- 7-ElevenPetrol station
156 Pacific Highway, Watanobbi
- St Andrew's Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
62 Watanobbi Road
- Australia PostPost Box
- Shelter
- Waste Basket (2)
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Brent Close ReservePark
- Coronet ParkPark
- Spotted Gum ParkPark
- The GrovePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- Parks (OSM)
- 5
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Places of worship
1 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- St Andrew's Uniting Church
62 Watanobbi Road
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Nearest hospital
- Wyong Hospital (5.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Public hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 259
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 63.2
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 295 mm · ~37 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 14°
- Rainfall
- 366 mm · ~46 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 272 mm · ~34 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 230 mm · ~29 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 2 proposals
July 2026
- Secondary dwelling; Residential flat building; Erection of a new structure; Semi-detached dwelling; Residential Accommodation20 HASLUCK DRIVE WATANOBBI 2259Additional Information Requested
June 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure2 KITTY PLACE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
2025· 7 proposals
November 2025
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation22 FORSTER AVENUE WATANOBBI 2259Withdrawn
October 2025
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support18 ABBEY CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Carport; Garage, carport or carparking space46 CASEY DRIVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
May 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure17 ISAACS CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
March 2025
- Secondary dwelling; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Hours of operation and trading5 KITTY PLACE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1A TENNYSON PLACE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
February 2025
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure13 FRIENDSHIP PLACE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
2024· 8 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support17 ISAACS CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
July 2024
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure79 FISHBURN CRESCENT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
June 2024
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure33 NICOLE CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
April 2024
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)12 CEDAR CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
March 2024
- Dual occupancy; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached); Residential Accommodation41 WATANOBBI ROAD WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house15 HARRINGTON CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure7A CASEY DRIVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
January 2024
- Dual occupancy; Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)230 Pacific Highway, Watanobbi NSW 2259Determined
2023· 7 proposals
December 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)8 WEAVER CRESCENT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure63 NORTHCOTT AVENUE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
November 2023
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support4 WEAVER CRESCENT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
July 2023
- Dwelling17 ISAACS CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
June 2023
- Retaining walls, protection of trees1 DE L'ISLE DRIVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling34 THE GROVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Pools / decks / fencing16 WEAVER CRESCENT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
2022· 10 proposals
December 2022
- Dual occupancy10 CAMDEN WAY WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling; Secondary dwelling20 ZELMAN CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
November 2022
- Pools / decks / fencing16 WEAVER CRESCENT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
September 2022
- Semi-attached dwelling; Demolition; Subdivision of land7A CASEY DRIVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
August 2022
- Secondary dwelling47 FISHBURN CRESCENT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling34 THE GROVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
July 2022
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land; Retaining walls, protection of trees212 PACIFIC HIGHWAY WATANOBBI 2259Determined
June 2022
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development78 CASEY DRIVE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land3 HAYDEN CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
March 2022
- Dual occupancy8 MEAD WAY WATANOBBI 2259Determined
2021· 7 proposals
December 2021
- Dwelling3 VINTAGE COURT WATANOBBI 2259Determined
October 2021
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Garages, carports and car parking spaces43 GUARDIAN ROAD WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Secondary dwelling63 NORTHCOTT AVENUE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
September 2021
- Dwelling; Pools / decks / fencing18 ZELMAN CLOSE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Dwelling; Retaining walls, protection of trees6 MCKELL AVENUE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
- Balconies, decks, patios, terraces or verandahs; Alterations and additions to residential development15 FARNOL PLACE WATANOBBI 2259Determined
July 2021
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision of land51 Watanobbi Road Watanobbi 2259Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Dobell
- Member of Parliament
- Emma McBRIDE (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 122,541
- Turnout (2025)
- 91.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +2.9 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 40.6%Labor 59.4%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.6 km away).
Coalition 35.3%Labor 64.7%
5.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +0.9 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WatanobbiLabor 65.5% · Coalition 34.5% TPP (2025)0.4 km away
- WyongLabor 55.5% · Coalition 44.5% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- Wyong EastLabor 60.5% · Coalition 39.5% TPP (2025)2.1 km away
- TuggerawongLabor 63.7% · Coalition 36.3% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
- Warnervale EastLabor 59.3% · Coalition 40.7% TPP (2025)3.5 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Central Coast Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.